Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-05-20
TIE iDterpreter


little girl pappoose was first present
ed. The Qaeen patted her cheek
with her black silk-gloved hand and
then the little thing stuck out her
brown paw and the Queen shook it
At this the Queen stepped back, but
the mother was not contented. She
walked up and stuck out her hand
and the Queen shook hands gravely
aud bowed. Then the other squaw
came up and said how" aud offered
her hand Then the little brown boy
pappoose came up and offered his
hand. The Queen shook hands with
them all, these being the ouly mem
bers Of the Wild Wes, party that
were thus honored
On His Country's Altar.
From the Philadelphia Daily News
A Lycoming county farmer, bless
ed by the possession of broad acres
and fat cattle, and fatter bank ac-
count, had given his five sons-more
precious than all else besides-that
the Union might be preserved. His
name was Rankin. His wife was
dead and his boys were his only so.
lace, but when war was declared he
felt as did Volumnia, the mother of
Coriolanus, when she said, Had l
dozen sons, each in my love alike, |
had rather have eleven die nobly for
their country than one voluptously
serfeit out of action SO the Rankin
boys went to confront grim-visaged
war. The life blood of two of them
made more fertile the rank growth of
the Peninsula, and their bodies Law
unclaimed amid the thousands who
had gone down in the shock of battle
The bowed but not broken father
came to the Governors Office in Har-
risburg with his tail of woe. An.
drew G. Curtin never turned q deaf
ear to such as be- He said:
"You are too old man to 60 after
your sons bodies. | will send
messenger for them and you can rest
assured that you will be enabled to
give them burial"
And this was done.
After tba second battle of Manas-
ses the aged farmer again entered the
Executive Chamber, aud, without
saying word, seated himself. The
Governor recognized him at once. and
thought: :
"Can it be that this old man has
been afflicted again?" -t.
He bade him approach. The visit
or's voice was broken, but his tears
did not fall as he said:
Governor, another of them has
gonen . "a
For a moment Governor Curtin
could not speak He silently wrung
the horny hand of the despoiled faith.
er. When he found voice he said:
"You must not go; will send for
him. You shall sac him again"
And this was done.
When the news of the battle of
Gettysburg reached Harrisburg Gov
ernor Curtin travelled rapidly across
the country aud viewed that mem
orable conflict. After its conclusion
he returned to Harrisburg tand was
seated late at night in his room, when
again Mr.. Rankin entered without o
word, and silently seated himself
upon a chair.
"My God" thought Mr., Curtin,
sit cannot be that the blow has fallen |
I'll ,,.,, ayra -
He could not bring himself to ask
the question, and for fully fifteen min
utes the two men sat in the room,
their heads upon their hands, and |
neither uttered word. At last the
old man said, as he steadied his
voice:
Governor, the other two are
gone"
"The other two? This is terri
ble."
Eyes, Governor, the other two,
They have taken them ALL"
He wished pass to enter the lines
that he might bring home his silent
sons.
"Yoa are too DID," said the an
guished Governor. 81 will send
for them, and they shall be taken
home"
And this was done.
After Governor Curtin had return
ed to this country at the close of his
FIVE years. residence at the court of
Russia, be was in Philadephia when
it was intimated to him that Mr. Ran
kin, who was still alive, would be
highly delighted if his benefactor
would pay him visit when the ex-
Minister was on his way to his home
in Centre county. Mr.. Curtin said
that lie would comply with the wish,
and when he reached the railroad sta
ton nearest to the Lyooming county
farmers home, be found the old man
waiting for him with carriage. That
evening the people of the surrounding
country, at Mr. Rankin,s bidding,
focked to do honor to the ex-Govern-
or. The next morning, after partak.
ing of a breakfast such as only
farm house can produce,
the aged agriculturist invited Mr..
Curtin to join him in walk. He
led the way to a wooded knob near
the house, and atop of which was
beautifully sodded inclosure, surround
ed by an iron railing, and within it
were five mounds and FIVE heaGstones.
The old man pointed toward them,
and simply said:
Governor, there they lie"
Both men bowed their heads, and
neither uttered a word. In a few
moments Mr. Rankin turned away
with a CHEEKY remark about the sur
rounding country, and from that mo-
ment during the two days festivities
that succeeded Mr.. Curtin's arrival,
the desolate father never referred to
his sleeping sons. Pathetic, isn't
it?
Mr.. an d Mrs. BOWSer.
From Detroit Free Press.
| suppose that Mr.. Bowser is like
. ho ,,aioritv nf man nuttinor tho host |